Career Services Center Christy Meriwether, Managing Director Donna Balko, Assistant Director

1. Career Services Center Christy Meriwether, Managing Director Donna Balko, Assistant Director Steps to Help You Land the Interview and Get the Job

2. Steps Step 1 – Constructing a Winning Resume Step 2 – References Step 3 – Letters of Recommendation Step 4 – Cover Letter Step 5 – The Interview Step 6 – Thank You Notes Step 7 - Resources

3. What is a resume? • It is usually the first impression you will make on a potential employer, so create interest by telling them why they should hire you! • Summary of relevant experience • Screening tool (good and bad) • It is an invitation for an interview • Career planning tool

4. General Tips for Resumes • Name at a 16 font size • Headers (Education, etc.) at a 12-14 font size • Use a horizontal format • Text underneath headers is at an 11-12 font size • Readable and clear font • Acronyms spelled out when not commonly known • When spelled out do not put acronyms in parentheses unless using them more than once

5. General Tips for Resumes • Do not write in first or third-person, except in the Objective Statement where you can use pronouns, “I” or “me” • Use action verbs to describe school and work experiences and use proper tense • Use bullets for lists – not for one item • No pictures, graphics, or URLs • If your resume is two pages, put your name on the second page

6. Sample Elements of a Resume • Name, Address, Phone, Email • Objective • Education • Clinical Experience • Related Work Experience • Certifications • Honors/Awards • Community Engagement • Professional Memberships

7. Objective Creation Tips • Keep it concise, targeted and relevant • Focus on how your skills and how you will benefit the employer • Should be crystal clear about career direction • Varies depending upon the job you want

8. Objective Format Example • Begin with what you are seeking • Add what you will bring to the position • End with how you will help, benefit, or improve the hospital, etc. • Keep to one sentence Seeking a graduate nurse position in University Medical Center’s Critical Care internship program where I can utilize my compassion and critical thinking skills to provide optimal care to every patient, every time.

9. Education • Name of school plus city and state • Bold the university and/or college names (include any institutions where you completed over 6 hours) • Do not list high school • Degree, month, and year (do not say “anticipated” graduation date) • GPA optional (if over 3.0) Example Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Lubbock, TXBachelor of Science in Nursing, May 2014 GPA: 3.0

10. Clinical Experiences – General Tips • Relate bullets to your objective • Use bullets that begin with action verbs • Two lines or shorter in length • Think in terms of a process • Hospitals want to know your performance in the following areas: Competent bedside care Use of high level equipment Performance in high level procedures Good communication skills Teamwork

11. Use the Job Description as a Guide • Job Responsibilities: Implements and monitors patient care plans. Monitors, records and communicates patient condition as appropriate. Monitors and documents patient's condition and effectiveness and timeliness of care and/or interventions; evaluates, updates and revises plan of care to facilitate achievement of planned and expected outcomes. Serves as a primary coordinator of all disciplines for well-coordinated patient care. Administers prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing protocol. Notes and carries out physician and nursing orders. Assesses and coordinates patient's discharge planning needs with members of the healthcare team. Assesses educational needs of the patient and significant others considering cultural issues and other special concerns. Provides teaching and educational material as appropriate. Validates and documents patient and family understanding of teaching.

12. Clinical Experiences as a Separate Heading Clinical Experience Pediatrics • Administered breathing treatment to asthmatic child, educated child and mother on proper technique, and offered reassurance • Used non-pharmacologic techniques to comfort child with abdominal pain, as well as monitoring vital signs Labor and Delivery • Counseled a young mother with gestational diabetes on proper nutrition choices • Monitored fetal heart rates throughout labor and delivery, and reported abnormal findings to charge nurse, while emotionally supporting the patient Additional 72 hours in PICU and NICU during Fall of 2016

13. Clinical Experiences with Education • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Lubbock, TX • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, May 2016 • GPA: 3.0 Clinical Experience Med/Surg Summer 2016 • Observed hospice referral and was mentored on easing the emotional impact of impending death • Translated for the nurses and physicians on the unit for a patient who only spoke Spanish • Taught patient about post bypass diet, activity, and medications as part of discharge instructions Surgical ICU • Conducted hourly neurological checks on a patient suffering of coup contrecoup lesion • Placed a nasogastric tube on a patient in the SICU • Additional 96 hours in high acuity setting during Fall of 2016.

14. Related Work Experience • Place of employment, city, state, month, and year of employment • Position held under place of employment If you have limited space, put the position in front of the place of employment so it is on the same line • Bulleted experiences beginning with action words Example Hospice of the South Plains, Lubbock, TX June 2011-August 2011 Nursing Assistant • Provided hospice-related healthcare in nursing homes, assisted living centers and patients’ residences • Assisted patients with ……

15. Other Headers Certifications American Heart Association, CPR/BLS and First Aid Certified Honors Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Dean’s List, Spring 2013 Leadership Dean’s Ambassador, TTUHSC School of Nursing Community Engagement March of Dimes Walk America, Volunteer and Fundraiser Professional Organizations Texas Nursing Students’ Association, Member

16. Finish strong • Proofread and have others proofread! • Print on resume paper and use a quality printer • Also use for cover letter and reference page

17. References • References Available Upon Request • Last item on the resume Signals the end of the resume May help you stand out • Reference Page is Separate from Resume • Include your Page Header at the Top • Center and title the page “References” Name, credentials, title, address, phone, email Left justified

18. References Example: References Fred Faculty, MSN, RN, CNE Associate Professor TTUHSC School of Nursing 3601 4th Street, MS 0000 Lubbock, TX 79430 806-743-0000 fred.faculty@ttuhsc.edu

19. Letters of Recommendation Typically, instructors listed as references are also asked to write a Letter of Recommendation. The School of Nursing provides a standard form* which is to be used unless a formal letter is required by the hospital. *Available on the SON website as a student resource.

20. Formal Letters of Recommendation • Think of the image you want to put forth and choose people who can write to support that image • Meet with each of them and tell them what you are applying for and why • Ask them if they would be able to provide you with a strong letter of recommendation • Give them 3-4 weeks notice • Provide them with information about the job, who/where to mail the letter, deadline and resume • Be prepared to provide them with a summary of your accomplishments

21. Cover Letter • Your marketing piece when you are not there • Remember, do not repeat the information in your resume • Include why you became a nurse • Be specific. Don’t just tell them you are qualified. Give examples.

22. Cover Letter First paragraph – Introduction • Introduction with information about the job you are applying to Second paragraph – Body • Why are you interested in the position? • Why their hospital? • Why did you go into nursing? What sets you apart? • Be specific Final Paragraph – Closing • Indicate you hope to meet with them • Make reference to your contact information • Thank them

23. More about proofreading • Watch for words in ALL CAPS • Don’t rely on spellcheck alone: I am experienced in all faucets (facets) of accounting Strong Work Ethic, Attention to Detail, Team Player, Attention to Detail Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.” Hope to hear from you, shorty

24. Items to Remember • When applying online Resume Cover Letter • When applying in person Resume References in case they ask for them • Generally, references are requested during or after the interview

25. Resources www.ttuhsc.edu/son/career, For Students Career Counseling Donna Balko, Assistant Director Christy Meriwether, Managing Director Resume Builder (Optimal Resume) “How to Guide” Interview Stream (interview prep) Jobs Current Job postings Quick jobs – Current job postings updated daily Interview Prep Library of Resources

26. Resources Library of Resources • Resume Building PowerPoint • Resume Checklist • Resume Planning Guide • Documenting Clinical Experiences • Cover Letter Planning Guide • Action Verbs • Interview Planning Guide • Top 10 Interview Questions • Interview Questions (Sample Behavioral Questions)

27. Follow Us SONCareer @son_career @SON_Career

28. “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” • –Arthur Ashe